ADPC conducted training courses on disaster management for Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs and its sub-bureaus, respectively on 16-25 April and 14-23 May 2000 in Bangkok. Forty-three officials in total attended the courses.
The course was designed based on the request from Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs. Beijing faces frequent disaster risks like drought, flood, debris flow, hail, gale and freezing. As such, Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs required training its staff to deal with the problems in order to maximize resources and improve the efficiency of the city's disaster management.
The course covered a range of topics, from concepts of disaster management, impact of hazards, risk assessment, to pre-disaster management and relief. Interactive lectures, group discussions and simulation exercises on post assessment techniques were adapted as training methods during the course. Course materials and lectures have been provided in English and Chinese.
By the evaluation of the participants, the two courses were successful, which was indicated by their very positive comments on course content, course trainers, teaching methods and secretariat assistance. And, the success was also indicated by achieving the following five objectives at the end of the course:
- to identify the disaster situation in Asia and the corresponding activities of ADPC
- to identify the basic concepts of disaster management
- to list down the impact of the changing environment
- to enumerate the disasters caused by human and natural forces.
- to articulate the idea of disaster preparedness and mitigation,
- to practice the use of damage assessment and needs analysis for disaster relief.
Click here for pictorial report on the course.
The following is a grateful letter from Mr. Ding Changli, the Deputy Director of the Disaster and Social Relief Department of Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs, who was also the leader of the second batch of participants.
